SOCECOL E8 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Consumerism, Niall Ferguson, Jared Diamond

• School: UC-Irvine
• Department: Social Ecology
• Course: SOCECOL E8
• Professor: John M.Whiteley

Document Summary

Only preventing some effects and not looking at root of problem. Cling to values that no longer make sense. Problem has too much momentum: human impact on environment, climate change, relations w/friendly neighbors, relations w/hostile societies, political, economic, and cultural traditions. Confused by existence and danger to rest of life. People are both innately good and corruptible. Frog convinced to give scorpion ride across water. Scorpion could not overcome innate nature and instincts. War and genocide as universal and eternal. Human mind = instrument of survival that employs both reason and emotion. Good side of humanity -> orderly and working toward a common goal. Main idea: west = more powerful than the rest. Huge change w/wealth -> north american became richer than asia. Ferguson on diamond -> politicians have little incentive to address problems unlikely to manifest in 100 years or more. Rest becoming more powerful and west losing touch. Most assets held by westerners -> 1/5 of population.